Jessamine County sheriff Kevin Corman had positive reports for the Jessamine Count Fiscal Court on Tuesday about the 2011 tax settlements, and he said his “good news” is good news for the county.
Taxes collected by the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office (JSO) are distributed out to the school system, the library, the fire departments and the state, along with a small percentage set aside for the county.
Corman estimates that JSO collected 97.9 percent of the total taxes owed; statewide, the requirement is 95 percent.
“We’ve been fortunate to maintain that 95-percent collection rate,” Corman said. “But when the tax base reaches in excess of $30 million, an extra 2 or 3 percent means a lot in tax dollars for the county.”
Tax collection starts in November at a discounted rate and is at a flat rate in December. However, in January, it goes up to a 3-percent penalty; by March, the penalty is multiplied nearly eight times higher. Corman said he feels this high penalty rate is the main reason the county has always done well in collecting fees.
